Parental incarceration (PI) is negatively associated with emotional, educational, and psychological child outcomes. However, few studies explore potential mechanisms through which these outcomes are transmitted or the means by which prosocial outcomes might develop. This study used data from two waves of a population cohort study of children aged 9 years and followed up aged 13 years living in Ireland. Children and parents (N = 8,568) completed measures of PI, primary caregiver (PCG) depression, PCG-child relationship quality, and child behavioral adjustment. We then conducted a secondary analysis on this national longitudinal study of children in Ireland. Using sequential mediation models, we observed a mediated indirect effect of PI on prosocial outcomes via PCG depression and PCG-child relationship quality. PI at age 9 was associated with increased difficulties and reduced prosocial behavior at age 13. Additionally, PI at age 9 affected PCG depression and the PCG-child relationship quality. Additionally, child prosocial outcomes, and emotional and behavioral difficulties were less apparent where PI had a weaker effect on PCG depression and the quality of PCG-child relationship. Supports that can mitigate the impact of PI for vulnerable caregivers and children are discussed.

父母监禁（PI）与孩子的情绪，教育和心理结局负相关。然而，很少有研究探索这些结果通过其传播的潜在机制或亲社会结果可能发展的方式。这项研究使用了两次针对9岁以下儿童和13岁以下在爱尔兰生活的儿童进行的队列研究的数据。子女与父母（N= 8,568）已完成的PI测量，初级照护者（PCG）抑郁，PCG与儿童的关系质量以及儿童行为调整。然后，我们对该爱尔兰儿童的全国性纵向研究进行了次要分析。使用顺序调解模型，我们观察到PI通过PCG抑郁症和PCG-儿童关系质量对亲社会结局的间接影响。9岁时的PI与增加的困难和13岁时的亲社会行为有关。此外，9岁的PI影响PCG抑郁症和PCG与儿童的关系质量。此外，在PI对PCG抑郁症和PCG与儿童的关系质量较弱的情况下，儿童的亲社会结局以及情感和行为困难较不明显。